THE DOUBLE CURSE &
THE DOUBLE CURE
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D
The Bible states: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42: 10); “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4,5)
“Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who forgiveth all my iniquities and healeth all my diseases.” (Ps. 103: 1, 2); “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:15)
In the above Scripture texts we see two things: sin and forgiveness; sickness and healing! Job was greatly afflicted with sore boils over his entire body until God healed him. Isaiah declared that Messiah's vicarious death provides forgiveness of sins and healing of sicknesses and diseases. And St. James states that the prayer of faith saves (heals) the sick and forgives those who have sinned!
Jesus Christ said: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10); “And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek Thee. And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.” (Mark 1: 37-39)
SICKNESS & DISEASE IS CAPTIVITY!
Sickness and Disease is Captivity. Destruction of the house and death of Job's children is captivity. Losing his property and reducing him to poverty is captivity. The horrible boils covering his body which Satan brought upon Job is cruel captivity!
Without doubt, Job was a captive of Satanic invention. Job was assaulted by the Devil and all his emissaries who killed his servants and stole his cattle. He was targeted by Satan who engineered the storm that destroyed his house and killed his children. It was Satan who brought destruction, death, sorrow, sickness and pain upon a godly man!
The GOOD NEWS is that even though Job suffered under the brutal hand of Satan for about six months to a year, in the end he was exonerated. God totally healed him and restored back to him twice as much as Satan had stolen!
Sickness and disease is Captivity. Christ, however, has purchased our Freedom from Satan's Prison House of fear, bitterness, anguish, torment, condemnation, doubt, oppression and depression, which often accompany severe sickness and disease!
The shed blood of Jesus Christ brings peace, forgiveness with assurance, wholeness of spirit, soul (mind) and body. Divine Healing from our Lord causes joy and blessings beyond compare, and a tranquility filled with thanksgiving and praise unto Jesus Christ our Lord!
JESUS CAST OUT MANY DEMONS!
Jesus cast out devils everywhere He went. Demons feared Jesus during His earthly ministry and they fear His servants today as we preach in His Name! The Holy Bible states: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His Word was with power.
“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone: What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art; the Holy One of God.
“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold Thy peace and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown Him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.” (Luke 4:14; 32-35)
The scribes, pharisees and chief priests were amazed by the power and authority Jesus of Nazareth possessed. Our Master was able to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and perform other great miracles after He was filled with the Holy Spirit. (John 3: 34). He had taught in the synagogue for years without any miracles of healing or deliverance, before He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
“Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him: and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ.” (Luke 4: 40,41)
The Bible says: “The thief cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy; I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10): “And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Just prior to His ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ issued the Great Commission to His followers: “And He said unto them, Go ye unto all the world, and preach the Gospel unto every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-18)
My Prayer is: “Come Lord, turn the captivity of sickness, disease and pain away from Thy children according to Thy Word and Thy precious promises which fail not, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son! Amen.”
WHY DID JESUS HEAL THE SICK?
1. SATAN THE SOURCE OF SICKNESS & DEATH:
There was no sin, sickness, disease or death in the Garden of Eden before the Fall: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it. “And God saw that everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good...” (Gen, 1: 27, 28, 41)
The Holy Bible states: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2: 16, 17)
“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; But of the fruit in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” (Gen. 3: 4).
And the serpent (Satan) said unto the woman: “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil... (Gen. 3:19)
When God's Hammer fell, He stated: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:19)
St. Paul declared: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned. For if by one man's offense, death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5: 12,17)
Jesus Christ is our Liberator: “The thief (devil) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy; I am come that ye may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10); “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8)
2. HE CAME TO LOOSE THOSE WHO WERE BOUND:
Jesus came from Heaven to bring freedom to Adam's fallen race. His mandate was to Liberate the Captives held by the tyrant Satan, the enemy of God and man. Our Saviour spent three years dismantling the kingdom of darkness by preaching the Word of God, healing the sick and casting out evil spirits!
After being filled with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan River and defeating the great Liar in the Wilderness Temptation, He returned in the Power of the Spirit declaring that He was the One whom Isaiah prophesied would usher in the Gospel Age, which was called the “acceptable year of the Lord.” Immediately, He began casting out devils and healing the sick!
This text defined His Ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty to them that are bruised.” (Luke 4: 18).
Here is Moffat's translation of Isaiah 61:1:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. He hath anointed Me to preach the Good News, to tell the Prisoners that they are FREE, to tell the Captives that they are Released.”
St. Paul stated that Jesus Christ's vicarious death on Golgotha and glorious resurrection three days later, totally destroyed Satan's power over the human race: “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through Death He might Destroy him that had the power of death that is, the Devil: and Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2: 14, 15)
When something is destroyed, it cannot be fixed. He is an eternally doomed despot and in the near future will be heading for Hell, and the Lake of Fire forever. And it will take only one angel to bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit!
“And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the Bottomless Pit and a great chain in his hand. And laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the Bottomless Pit, and shut him up...” (Rev. 20: 1,2)
3. TO BEAR AWAY OUR SINS, SICKNESS & PAIN:
Seven hundred years before our Saviour was born in Bethlehem, God's prophet declared: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not.
“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.
“All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53: 3-6)
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them, that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a Body hast Thou prepared Me; By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ Once for all.
“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for EVER, sat down on the right hand of God:
“For by one Offering He hath perfected for EVER them that that are sanctified. And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the House of God:
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; For He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 9:28 10: 5,9-14, 17-23)
This is the greatest truth ever revealed to mortal man! Nothing in a million years could compare with the magnanimous goodness, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ's gift of eternal salvation freely given to us through His all atoning, compassionate and vicarious death for us on Golgotha's Cross. We have been PERFECTED forever through Christ's PROPITIONARY offering, because He was delivered for our offenses and was raised for our justification! (Rom. 4:25)
4. TO BREAK THE DEUTERONOMY CURSE:
In the Covenant of Blessing and Cursing, Moses declared: “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandment and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee.
“Moreover He will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
“And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way which I spake unto thee, thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall ye be sold to your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy thee.” (Deut. 28: 15,60,61,68)
The Mosaic Covenant that God made with the Children of Israel was one of Blessing and Cursing which stated that if they would obey the Lord and refrain from pagan idolatry they would be the most blessed in all the earth, but if they disobeyed, His blessings would leave them and they would be cursed.
JESUS PAID FOR JEWISH FREEDOM!
In His mercy, God the Son was incarnated (God in human flesh), true God from eternity and true man through His virgin birth and became a curse, by dying as God's paschal Lamb for them and the whole world. He had come to lift the curse, but was reviled and rejected by their religious leaders.
St. Paul wrote: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the blessing of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal.3: 13).
Jesus stated: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” (John 3:14). When the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah, Almighty God turned His back upon His people. When they revolted against the Romans, more than a million Jews were killed and 89,000 were taken as slaves and sent back to Egypt.
In 70 A.D. the Roman Empire destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. For 2,000 years, the Jewish people were homeless, hated, persecuted and destroyed! Adolf Hitler's Holocaust shocked the world and by God's will and U.S. President Harry S. Truman's influence in the United Nations, Israel was given statehood. At 4:00 o'clock on May 14, 1948, in the Art Museum, Tel Aviv, President David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel, a free and independent State, the first Jewish state in 2,000 years.
5. TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL:
St. John declared: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might Destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3: 8). Through many years of studying the Holy Bible and other theological materials and a half century of ministering God's Word to multitudes across the world, I am convinced there are five works of the Devil.
The first work of the devil is SIN, which is a transgression or disobedience of God's laws (1 John 3:4). Through the call of the Holy Spirit and preaching of God's Word, sinners are born again. (John 3:3,7). There is deliverance from sin through Jesus' precious blood (1 John 1:7): “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23); “For the wages of SIN is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)
The second work of the devil is Fear. The Bible says: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7). Satan is the author of fear. Fear hath torment and perfect love casteth out fear. Every time Jesus spoke to troubled people, He said: “Fear thou not; “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give I unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
The third work of the devil is sickness, disease and death. Sickness is incipient death. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead and He has given us the power to heal the sick in His name. Through His vicarious death and resurrection, He tasted death for every man. And because He lives, we shall live also! Jesus Christ Lord of the Living and Dead!
The fourth work of the devil is poverty. When Jesus witnessed a funeral procession with a widow mourning the death of her only son, He was moved with compassion and stopped the procession. He raised the boy from the dead and him gave him back to his mother. He made sure that she would be cared for! (Luke 6:38)
The fifth work of the devil is demon oppression and possession. On multiple occasions, Jesus cast out demons from those who were bound by them. He commanded them to be quiet and to leave, which they did. The demons were terrified of Him and begged that He might not torment them for they knew who He was. He commanded them to depart. And He gave us His power to do the same!
In his Great Commission He says: “And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My Name, shall they cast out devils...” (Mark 16: 15-20)
After Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven, St. Peter said, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him.” (Acts 10: 38)
6. TO DO HIS FATHER'S WILL:
“Giving thanks to the Father, which made us meet to be partakers of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, in Whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:12-14)
“For as much then as the children are of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise also took part of the same; that through Death He might Destroy him who had the power of death, that is the Devil, and Deliver them who through fear of death, where all there lifetime subject to Bondage.” (Heb 2: 3-4)
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to His cross; and have spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2: 14, 15); “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Whom is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:3,4)
Divine Healing is God's will: “And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His Miracles which He did on them that were diseased. (John 6:2); “Ye men of Israel, hear these words Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs witch God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” (Acts 2: 22); And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” (John 8:29);
7. TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES:
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
“But He was wounded for our transactions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our Peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord have laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53: 3-6)
“When the even was come, they brought forth unto Him many that were possessed with devils; and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed ALL that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoke by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bare our Sicknesses.” (Matt. 8:16,17)
“Who His own SELF bare our sins in His own body on the tree (CROSS), that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: By whose Stripes ye were Healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24):
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who Redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is Renewed like the eagles.” (Psalm 103: 1-5)
The Holy Bible refers to Jesus Christ healing the sick and oppressed through His Word, His shed blood, His awesome Name and by the Blessed Holy Spirit. He frees us from every curse, plagues, bondage, fear, sickness, disease and torment and protects us, delivers and blesses us!
FASTING AND PRAYER!
Seven hundred years before the birth of Messiah Jesus, Isaiah prophesied the coming of our Saviour. He also preached powerful messages of righteousness and laid out specifically what God's people must do to prepare their hearts for a great Revival! Here he teaches the importance of fasting and prayer:
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Is. 58: 6,7)
Early in my Ministry for JESUS, I learned the value of fasting and prayer! For years, while working as a pastor and evangelizing simultaneously, we usually began the New Year with seven days of fasting and prayer. A number would join us in this effort, with great blessing. Personally, I would continue the fast for a longer duration.
The disciples of Jesus had tried in vain to free a little deaf and dumb boy from demon spirits. When Jesus came on the scene, He healed him. When they asked why they could not, Jesus answered: “Because of your unbelief...Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17: 17-21)
Jesus Christ our Lord said: “Can the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” (Mark 2:20)
This is God's way to reach those who are unsaved, sick or suffering from demon oppression. God's promises are sure and certain and when we seek God in fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to liberate Satan's slaves in Jesus' Name!
LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE!
“To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and bread to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor to thy house?
“This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from Heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.” (Ps.102: 19-21)
“A voice was heard upon the high places; weeping and supplication of the children of Israel; for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the way of the Lord their God. RETURN ye backsliding children and I will heal your backslidings. Behold we come unto Thee; for thou art the Lord our God.” (Jer. 3: 21,22)
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven them.” (James 5:14,15)
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His will?” (Heb.2:3,4)
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a ,man approved of God among you, by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, which you all know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom, God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:22-24)
THE BLESSINGS OF OBEYING GOD!
Obeying the Word of God bring great blessing and healing, but disobeying His Word brings His judgment: There is a law that states: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal.6:7, 8)
You reap what you sow and when people and nations, There is a price to pay for disobedience. The Bible says that SIN is a stench in God's nostrils! (Is. 65: 5). To understand what God thinks about sickness, disease read: Duet 28: 15, 18 22, 27, 28, 34, 35, 45.
I CONCUR WITH GOD'S WORD!
God's Word cannot return unto Him void. It must accomplish that for which it was sent. It is impossible for God to fail. He has placed His Word above His Name, therefore it is impossible for God's Word to fail. “He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their destructions.” (Ps. 107: 20).
The Holy Bible states: “God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of a man that He should repent (change). Has He said and shall He not do it, or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?” (Nu. 23: 19)
God's great heart of mercy and grace desires to bless and heal all who are hurting and suffering today. I do not believe it is God's will for any of His children to suffer the pain, agony and torment which Jesus suffered for us on the whipping pole and on the cross!
All sickness and disease was conquored by our Saviour Jesus Christ who took upon Himself our sicknesses and pains. The Bible says: “For He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4, 5)
“When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and HEALED all that were sick. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bear our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17);
“Who His own Self bare or sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24). Our Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever. My deepest convictions and my personal belief about Jesus Christ is identical to the Holy Scriptures. I concur totally with the Word of God! Amen.
